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Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!! I try to tell this to the parks that while, yes of course, the coaster ERT is very, very important, the extras, the behind-the-scenes tours, and all the other things we work with the parks to put on for you guys really helps make a TPR event stand out from other "roller coaster" only events. Personally, they are also MY favorite parts of our events! While I can ride Silver Bullet whenever I want to, how often are you going to get to see INSIDE the log ride or Xcelerator? --Robb Exactly! The log ride tour is what I'm what I'm looking forward to the most.

Hey Mister Smart Guy. Do you realize the heart of Santa Cruz sits 2 miles from the ocean at an elevation of 36 feet? Do you realize the flooding in Japan occured 6 miles inland? Even further inland with the tsunami in the South Pacific a couple of years back. I can't comment on the panic, but being prepared and heading inland to higher ground sounds like the SMART thing to do. People that are unprepared for natural disasters and don't heed warnings are stupid, but I'll call it natural selection as they could end up dead. I remember watching local TV news footage of cops having to save idiots on the Virignia Beach oceanfront when Hurricane Isabel hit. Yes, they thought it would be cool to watch the wave action from the beach--good thing the cops saved them from being swept out to sea.

Or what about an S&S Screamin Swing? I can get behind that--Screamin' Swings are great.

^You really need to read this thread. Indeed. The "watermark controversy thread" points out the absurdity of annoying, pretentious behavior among enthusiasts in general. And how about we get back on topic, folks?

^^Park nice--but coaster BAD!

^Considering the coaster was GASM, I'd say their actions were appropriate.

^A cyborg coaster? I'm encouraged by what I'm hearing about the Texas Giant. If the new track can make an old ride good or great again, the classification isn't important to me.

This is making me more interested in taking a trip to Texas. The new Texas Giant is looking good. Ghost Rider will probably need new topper track combined with an exorcism. "Cease all jackhammering! The power of Christ compels you!"

So, Jean LaFoote has finally triumphed! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdn3pojCzJQ

^I agree. I think SOB's reputation is so bad now that there's little point in trying to resurrect it.

^^My feelings might be hurt if I valued their opinion.

David, spinning and Chuck usually don't mix very well, so I fully expected to be "one and done" with Insane. But I was shocked at how much I enjoyed it. The group during the ERT probably did help a bit, too. Insane is definitely worth a try--short but intense. Have a great time in Scandanavia. Here's a link to my Grona Lund TR, if you're curious.

The next time I'm in NYC, I doin' a pizza tour--looks great!

^Meaning what exactly? If your one experience with a Zac spin is during an ERT session, what else are you going to base your opinion on? When it came to Grona Lund's Insane in 2009, I fully expected to ride it once during ERT, and that would be it (not a "spinning ride" person). I ended up thinking the ride was great and rode it multiple times.

I think you should rank it based on both; that is, provide two rankings. Adjusting for the type of beer being drunk before the ride would be desirable, too. For example, "Lager makes this ride better. Hefeweizen, not so much." This could be the beginning of an entirely new poll based on Oktoberfest rides.

It all just boils down to experience and personal opinion--everybody has their own way of "ranking" coasters. You can only "go with what you know."

^^I agree with you about the Hawker poll--it is a very valuable resource for letting people know about rides they may not have considered before. As for ACE members I encountered two extremes during one day at BGW a few years ago: one was huge and chowing down on pizza, while the other was a veritable "beanpole" sipping on a beer at Grogan's. I've never been a member of ACE, myself. As for Voyage and night rides, well, I can understand where you're coming from, but I've never been to Hoilwood Nights. That being said, I can only base my opinion on what sorts of rides I've had on it. (The vast majority of the park's guests aren't going to get nighttime ERT.) El Toro, to my mind, delivers a consistently great ride throughout the season--does Voyage? Not in my experience, which I admit is less than yours. But perhaps I'll got to Holiwood Nights sometime and see for myself.

We hit $3.29 in Williamsburg last week.

We already have a topic devoted to gas prices: http://themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1143&hilit=gas. Please feel free to post your local gas prices there. Thank you.

Be prepared for brutal temperatures and humidity; that being said, August 2010 was actually cooler than June and July of that year (which were worse than usual). You can get free cups of ice water at both KD and BGW at park-operated drink stands. KD also has a decent water park, whereas BGW offers more shade. It'll be hot, but if you pace yourself and drink plenty of water, you'll be OK.

William and Mary had a similar controversy a few years back involving a live presentation by representatives of the porn and sex-for-hire industries at the campus theatre in Phi Beta Kappa Hall; essentially, they were just discussing what they do for a living and why. This didn't sit well with the more provinicial residents of Williamsburg.

^A perfectly understandable reaction.

Hell, why not buy the rights to The African Queen and retitle it "Jungle Cruise"? I'm sure it would beat the hell out of any new story they could concoct.

Looking forward to riding this one myself, in a few weeks.

^Mine, too--Wildebeest was great!